Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A. SCHULMAN REPORTS STRONG IMPROVEMENT IN ADJUSTED NET INCOME FOR FULL YEAR AND FOURTH QUARTER FISCAL 2011

AKRON, Ohio – October 26, 2011 – A. Schulman, Inc. (Nasdaq-GS: SHLM) announced today earnings for the full year and the fiscal 2011 fourth quarter ended August 31, 2011. The Company reported full-year net income of $41.0 million, or $1.32 per diluted share, compared with $43.9 million, or $1.57 per diluted share, last year.

For the fourth quarter, the Company reported net income of $5.9 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, compared with $7.9 million, or $0.25 per diluted share, for the same period last year. The translation effect of foreign currencies favorably affected net income by $1.5 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011.

The Company’s full-year and fourth-quarter 2011 net income and adjusted net income were negatively impacted by the previously announced special charges related to a dispute settlement and a harmonization of the methodology employed by the Company to calculate inventory reserves. These charges totaled $5.8 million after taxes, or $0.19 per diluted share, for the full year and fourth quarter of 2011.

Reported gross profit for the quarter was $71.0 million, an increase of $11.5 million from the gross profit of $59.5 million a year ago. The increase in gross profit was a result of improvement in the masterbatch product family across all segments. The currency translation effect favorably impacted gross profit by $6.8 million, which was offset by a $3.1 million charge related to the inventory reserve methodology harmonization.

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The Company uses non-GAAP financial measures, such as net income excluding certain items (“adjusted net income”) and net income per diluted share excluding certain items. These financial measures are used by management to monitor and evaluate the ongoing performance of the Company and to allocate resources. The Company believes that the additional measures are useful to investors for financial analysis. However, non-GAAP measures are not in accordance with, nor are they a substitute for, GAAP measures. Please see the table in this release for reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to the nearest comparable GAAP results. Results in the following discussion exclude the one-time charges and acquisition-related items.

Net sales increased 37.5% to $2.2 billion for fiscal 2011, compared with $1.6 billion in fiscal 2010. The primary driver behind the net sales increase was the full-year impact of the ICO acquisition. Adjusted net income was $58.0 million, or $1.86 per diluted share, for fiscal 2011, compared with $48.2 million, or $1.72 per diluted share, a year ago. The adjusted net income improvement was primarily a result of including a full year of ICO results, as well as improved operating performance. EBITDA, excluding certain items, increased to $121.6 million in fiscal 2011 from $92.8 million a year ago, reflecting the profitability improvement during the fiscal year.

“We are pleased that we achieved strong results for fiscal 2011 as margins improved across all of our businesses during the fourth quarter, and we are also seeing the positive results of the aggressive and decisive actions we have taken to mitigate the effects of the weakening global economic environment,” said Joseph M. Gingo, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “Throughout a year of unsettled global markets, we focused on continuous improvement in our organization while continuing to realign our manufacturing capacity to effectively utilize the existing assets, and expanding our product offerings. We also saw the expected contributions from our recent acquisitions, which have allowed us to expand our global operations and enhance our capabilities to serve growing, profitable and high-margin markets.”

Gingo continued, “Additionally, we were able to increase our quarterly dividend by 10%, to $0.17 per common share, providing our shareholders with a strong yield in addition to an investment with solid growth opportunities. This increase in the dividend and our repurchase of 1.6 million shares under the current authorized program demonstrates the Company’s high level of confidence in our strong cash generation capability and our ability to execute on our long-term strategic master plan. We believe that the combination of increasing the dividend, executing our share repurchase program, exploring strategic acquisition opportunities, and investing in our internal growth projects provides our shareholders with a very attractive investment in A. Schulman.”

For the 2011 fourth quarter, net sales were $578.1 million, an increase of 21.4% compared with $476.2 million for the comparable period last year. Volume of 512 million pounds for the quarter declined from 525 million pounds a year ago. The increase in net sales was driven primarily by a 24.6% increase in price per pound and a favorable foreign currency translation.

Gross profit for the quarter was $71.4 million, compared with $60.9 million last year, an increase of 17.2%. The inventory reserve methodology harmonization charge of $3.1 million negatively impacted gross margins for the fourth quarter of 2011.

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expense for the fiscal 2011 fourth quarter was $51.8 million, an increase of $6.5 million compared with $45.3 million in the fiscal 2010 fourth

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quarter. The increase in SG&A is primarily due to the impact of the $3.0 million dispute settlement and $4.4 million of foreign currency effect.

For the fourth quarter, the Company had adjusted net income of $15.0 million, or $0.49 per diluted share, compared with $11.7 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, for the same period last year.

Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) – For the full year, net sales in the EMEA segment were $1.5 billion, an increase of $0.4 billion from $1.1 billion last year. Operating income was $86.7 million, an increase of 24.9% from $69.4 million a year ago. The increase in net sales was primarily due to the ICO acquisition, along with a 17.2% improvement in average selling price per pound. The impact of including a full year of ICO contributed $11.2 million to operating income for the year.

In the fiscal 2011 fourth quarter, net sales were $394.8 million, an increase of $76.4 million, or 24.0%, compared with the prior-year period. The increase was primarily the result of a 27.8% increase in selling prices per pound with favorable product mix offset by a decrease in volume. Volume for the quarter was 312 million pounds, a decrease of 3.0% from the prior-year period, primarily related to the masterbatch product family. The foreign currency impact increased net sales by approximately 13.6%.

Gross profit was $46.9 million for the quarter, up from $37.6 million a year ago as a result of the increase in selling prices per pound and favorable product mix. Operating income was $19.8 million, up from $12.6 million in the prior-year quarter, due to the increase in gross profit offset by an increase of $2.1 million in SG&A. The increase in SG&A was primarily due to the negative effects of foreign currency translation of $3.3 million offset by reduced spending during the quarter. The foreign currency effect favorably impacted operating income by $5.6 million.

Americas – For the full year, the Americas reported net sales of $516.8 million, an increase of 42.4% from $363.0 million last year, as a result of including a full year of ICO results in fiscal 2011 compared with four months in fiscal 2010. Annual operating income was $14.0 million, an increase of 16.7% from $12.0 million last year. The impact of including a full year of ICO contributed $15.2 million to operating income for the year.

Net sales in the Americas were $145.2 million in the fiscal 2011 fourth quarter, an increase of $20.4 million, or 16.3%, from $124.8 million a year ago due to an increase in selling price per pound of 18.2%. Foreign currency effect favorably impacted net sales by $5.1 million. Volume for the quarter was 167 million pounds, a slight decrease from 170 million pounds a year earlier.

Gross profit was $19.9 million for the quarter, compared with $19.1 million a year ago. The increase was due to improved gross profit per pound in the masterbatch and specialty powders product families, offset by lower gross profit per pound in the engineered plastics product families. Operating income was $1.9 million during the quarter, compared with $7.0 million in the prior-year period. The decrease in operating income was a result of an increase in SG&A expense of $5.9 million related to acquisitions and $3.0 million charge related to a settlement involving a business relationship.

Asia Pacific (APAC) – For the full year, APAC reported net sales of $142.1 million, an increase of 67.4% from $84.9 million last year, and operating income of $5.6 million, an increase of

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86.7% from $3.0 million last year. The increase in net sales was primarily due to the ICO acquisition and higher selling prices per pound, while the improvement in operating income was due to an increase in gross profit offset by a $3.0 million increase in SG&A expenses. Excluding ICO, operating income was $7.0 million for fiscal 2011.

Net sales were $38.1 million for the quarter, an increase of 15.5% from $33.0 million a year ago due to an increase of approximately 19.2% in selling price per pound. The foreign currency effect increased net sales by $5.8 million. Volume for the quarter was 33 million pounds, a decrease of approximately 3.2% from a year earlier. Volume decreased in Australia while the rest of the APAC segment increased compared with the prior year as a result of stronger customer demand.

Gross profit increased to $4.6 million, compared with $4.2 million in the fourth quarter of last year, primarily due to an increase of $1.0 million in the masterbatch product families offset by the Australia specialty powders product family. Operating income was $1.7 million, up from $0.5 million a year ago, as a result of the increase in gross profit and a decrease in SG&A expense.

Cash Flow from Operations and Working Capital

The Company’s liquidity position remains strong. Cash flow from operations was $68.9 million for fiscal 2011, compared with $4.4 million for the previous year. Working capital improved to 60 days at the end of fiscal 2011, compared with 61 days a year earlier. Net debt (total debt less cash and cash equivalents) increased to $40.4 million from $32.0 million a year ago. In recognition of the Company’s strong cash position, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.17 per share, an increase of 10%, as announced October 14, 2011.

As of October 10, 2011, the Company repurchased $30 million, or approximately 1.6 million shares, under the current authorization plan. The Company has remaining authorization to repurchase an additional $70 million of common stock under the board-approved program.

Fiscal 2012 Guidance and Business Outlook

“If the global economy and demand remain steady, we are confident that our recent actions will result in increased profitability for the Company in fiscal 2012. However, we live with significant volatility in the global macroeconomic environment that challenges us on a daily basis. Given the climate we face, which limits our visibility, we have decided to forgo providing specific guidance for fiscal 2012. We will continue to update our investors with changing trends throughout the year,” Gingo said.

The Company will continue to provide appropriate updates against its 2015 long-term targets as well as any interim directional guidance that is appropriate and meaningful.

Conference Call on the Web

A live Internet broadcast of A. Schulman’s conference call regarding fiscal 2011 fourth-quarter earnings can be accessed at 11 a.m. Eastern time on October 27, 2011, on the Company’s website, www.aschulman.com. An archived replay of the call will also be available on the website.

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Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This earnings release includes the use of both GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) and non-GAAP financial measures. The non-GAAP financial measures are adjusted net income, net income per diluted share excluding certain items and EBITDA. The most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are net income and net income per diluted share. Tables included in this earnings release reconcile each non-GAAP financial measure with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.

A. Schulman uses these financial measures to monitor and evaluate the ongoing performance of the Company and to allocate resources, and believes that the additional non-GAAP measures are useful to investors for financial analysis. In addition, the Company believes that providing this information is in the best interest of our investors so that they can accurately consider the non-GAAP financial information. However, non-GAAP measures are not in accordance with, nor are they a substitute for, GAAP measures.

While management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful supplemental information to investors, there are limitations associated with the use of these measures. These non-GAAP financial measures are not prepared in accordance with GAAP, may not be reported by all of the Company’s competitors and may not be directly comparable to similarly titled measures of the Company’s competitors due to potential differences in the exact method of calculation. The Company compensates for these limitations by using these non-GAAP financial measures as supplements to GAAP financial measures and by reviewing the reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures to their most comparable GAAP financial measures.

The Company’s non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for comparable GAAP financial measures, and should be read only in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.

About A. Schulman, Inc.

Headquartered in Akron, Ohio, A. Schulman is a leading international supplier of high-performance plastic compounds and resins. These materials are used in a variety of consumer, industrial, automotive and packaging applications. The Company employs about 3,000 people and has 35 manufacturing facilities globally. Additional information about A. Schulman can be found at www.aschulman.com.

Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements

A number of the matters discussed in this document that are not historical or current facts deal with potential future circumstances and developments and may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historic or current facts and relate to future events and expectations. Forward-looking statements contain such words as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and include known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which management is unable to predict or control, that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by these forward-looking statements, and that could adversely affect the Company’s future financial performance, include, but are not limited to, the following:

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The risks and uncertainties identified above are not the only risks the Company faces. Additional risk factors that could affect the Company’s performance are set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and the most recent Form 10-Q. In addition, risks and uncertainties not presently known to the Company or that it believes to be immaterial also may adversely affect the Company. Should any known or unknown risks or uncertainties develop into actual events, or underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, these developments could have material adverse effects on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. This document contains time-sensitive information that reflects management’s best analysis only as of the date of this document. The Company does not undertake an obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new events, information or circumstances, or otherwise. Further information concerning issues that could materially affect financial performance related to forward-looking statements can be found in the Company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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Contact information:

Jennifer K. Beeman

Director of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations

A. Schulman, Inc.

3550 W. Market St.

Akron, Ohio 44333

Tel: 330-668-7346

email: Jennifer_Beeman@us.aschulman.com

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A. SCHULMAN, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

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CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

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CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

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SUPPLEMENTAL SEGMENT INFORMATION

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Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Unaudited

(In thousands, except per share data)